This Week Sports Headlines

Enlarge ImageRequest to buy this photoChris Russell | DISPATCHNorthland coach Sean Taylor is surrounded by the
Dispatch All-Metro boys basketball team, from left: Mike Wells of Delaware, player of the year Jae’Sean Tate of Pickerington Central, Wendell Davis of Reynoldsburg, Isaac McGlone of Bloom-Carroll and Jack Gibbs of Westerville North.

When Jae’Sean Tate of Pickerington Central committed to Ohio State before his junior season in
November, a few high-school basketball observers scratched their heads.

Some wondered why Buckeyes coach Thad Matta offered a scholarship to a 6-foot-5, 205-pound
player who thrived on using his muscle in the post area. Skeptics insisted he was a Mid-American
Conference talent at best and others suggested he was built and better suited to play Division I
football.

Although he admittedly still needs to polish his perimeter skills before donning the scarlet and
gray, Tate — especially over the second half of the season — showed the athleticism, versatility
and upside to potentially play at the highest level.

Tate, who averaged 23 points and 11 rebounds in leading the Tigers (19-8) to a Division I
district championship, was selected as the player of the year on the
Dispatch All-Metro team. Schools in Franklin and the six contiguous counties are
eligible.

Coach Jerry Francis, a former Buckeyes standout, gave Tate — the eldest son of former Ohio State
and Cincinnati player Jermaine — free rein to handle the ball, play on the perimeter and develop
the skills needed to eventually play shooting guard or small forward for OSU. In crunch time,
however, the left-hander’s chiseled frame and explosive leaping skills were featured near the
basket.

“I took on a personal trainer, Jim McGlone, to help me with my jump shot, and I improved my
fitness a lot,” Tate said. “I feel like my overall game has gotten a lot better in the past nine
months, but I know that I still have work to do with my ball handling, off-dribble shooting and
going right.”

McGlone is the father of All-Metro first-teamer Isaac McGlone of Bloom-Carroll, who has signed
with Eastern Kentucky. The remainder of the team is Davidson-bound guard Jack Gibbs of Westerville
North, Ashland signee Wendell Davis of Reynoldsburg and Mike Wells of Delaware, an Albany
signee.

The coach of the year was Sean Taylor, who guided a Northland team with only one returning
starter and one senior to a 28-0 mark and season-long No. 1 state ranking. The Vikings reached the
Division I state tournament for the third time in five seasons, but first under Taylor, who
succeeded Satch Sullinger in 2011-12 after 11 seasons at Eastmoor Academy.

“We exceeded all of my expectations, to tell you the truth,” Taylor said. “A lot of people didn’t
expect much out us this year and I figured we might lose five or six games with the schedule we
played, but to the credit of the kids, they found a way to win all year long.”